The recent spell of fine weather had little affect on the weekly cattle sale at Clogher Livestock Mart, Co Tyrone, on Saturday last.

There was another bumper sale entry and all sale rings were packed with plenty of buyers looking to source good-quality store and fat cattle.

In total, there was a large offering of 1,331 cattle brought forward for sale, with prices up on previous weeks.

Mart manager Harrison Boyd commented that more cattle are coming out, as buyers are looking for store animals for grazing and forward cattle for a quick finish, capitalising on the recent strengthening in beef prices.

In the fat ring, there were 356 animals brought forward for sale.

Cow heifers were met with excellent demand and prices peaked at £2.24/kg (€2.65/kg) for a 720kg Belgian Blue animal.

Beef cows sold to £1.88/kg (€2.22/kg) for good-quality continental animals, with plainer cows making £1.40 to £1.70/kg (€1.65 to €2.04/kg). Friesian cows sold around the £1.30/kg (€1.54/kg) mark, but were still in demand.

Fat bullocks sold from £2.05/kg back to £1.70/kg (€2.42/kg to €2.01/kg) for good-quality continental and traditional beef breeds.

Friesian bullocks sold to £1.63/kg (€1.92/kg). Fat heifers sold to similar prices as bullocks.

In the bullock ring, the trade peaked at £1,530 (€1,810) for a 770kg Angus animal.

Demand was strongest for good-quality forward stores suited for a short intensive finish.

Bullocks weighing 580kg to 650kg liveweight sold from £1,400 to £1,495 (€1,656 to €1,769), with quality reflected in price. Mid-weight bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from £980 to £1,105 (€1,159 to €1,307).

In the heifer ring, the trade peaked at £1,330 (€1,573) for a 630kg Angus animal, with the general price range of £1,120 to £1,295 (€1,325 to €1,532) for top-quality lots. Mid-weight heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from £900 to £1,055 (€1,065 to €1,248).

The trade for cows and calves peaked at £2,140 (€2,544) for a 2009-born cow with a bull calf at foot. Other noted prices saw cows with calf at foot sell from £1,400 to £1,650 (€1,656 to €1,952).

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This week's full mart coverage